Executives from Ondo Finance, Robinhood-owned Bitstamp, and Babylon Labs have stated that Wall Street’s anticipated shift toward cryptocurrency is now a reality. However, institutional adoption has proven slower and more fragmented than initially predicted within the sector.
During a discussion titled ‘Is the Wall Street Herd STILL Coming?’ at Consensus Miami 2026, panelists highlighted how financial institutions are increasingly adopting blockchain technology, tokenized securities, and crypto-native yield products.
Ondo Finance’s President Ian De Bode confirmed that Wall Street is indeed embracing cryptocurrency. He cited recent collaborations with Broadridge and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to tokenize securities and facilitate blockchain-based shareholder voting as evidence of this shift.
Nicola White from Robinhood observed a significant change in discussions with banks over the past two years, stating that the focus has moved from understanding blockchain technology to integrating it into banking operations. “We’re no longer debating what blockchain is,” she remarked. “Now, it’s about how we assist them in building.”
The panelists pointed out that crypto infrastructure offers advantages over traditional finance with faster settlement and broader market access. Ondo’s tokenized treasury products allow investors to mint and redeem positions on weekends while earning daily yields, a feature still rare in conventional money markets.
Despite these advancements, institutional adoption is hampered by outdated financial systems and regulatory challenges. White noted that banks are cautiously developing crypto solutions, awaiting more definitive regulatory directions.
Boris Alergant from Babylon Labs highlighted the shift toward capital efficiency rather than focusing solely on bitcoin price gains. He explained that Babylon’s lending products allow users to borrow against their bitcoin holdings without surrendering custody via wrapped assets or centralized intermediaries.
The discussion also brought attention to the growing divide between regulated U.S. markets and unregulated offshore crypto environments. De Bode suggested that while decentralized finance will continue to thrive abroad, domestic banks are likely to adopt more regulated blockchain systems.
“I don’t foresee a scenario where all offshore innovations migrate to the U.S.,” he stated.
Despite these differences, panelists agreed that institutional capital and native crypto liquidity would eventually bridge the gap between the two ecosystems.